Food aid does more harm than good

In recent times, there has been a lot of discussion about how effective food aid is in poor, developing countries. Some argue that welfare dependency creates ever more dependency instead of looking at changing policies that would promote self sustaining practices. This is why Africa has gotten poorer while other regions of the world have improved their standards of living.

In other words, should agencies spend more time, money and services in helping people develop their own food crops, than handing out food parcels all the time?

Do you think food aid is doing more harm than good?

Are the Olympic Games a waste of money?

There has been a lot of talk about how the Olympic Games are a waste of money. Some of the arguments for this are:

• The Olympics are a risky and potentially damaging proposition for any city that hosts them. Beijing spent $20 billion (U.S.) on them for this year's games; London is almost there at 9.3 billion pounds (around $18.6 billion U.S.).


• Much of this lies with the fact that instead of planning real, sustainable long-term city development, city money is being chucked at stadiums that might have a dismal afterlife after the end of the 17-day sports event.


• The only city to make a real profit with the games is LA in 1984, much of the reason being that they used existing infrastructure, but only gained little job growth and other benefits.


• The idea that the Games brings people together is only partly true. Large-scale sports brings about rivalry, and nationalism has manifested itself at the event before (1936 Berlin, 1972 Munich, Cold War rivalries, etc.).


• There's no real focus of bringing people together like a cooperative event such as, say, Live Aid or likely the upcoming Climate Change concert series.


• Nothing against sports themselves, but the limitations of promoting global unity through having countries compete for glory are apparent.

So, in the end, too much money is spent on a short-term event.

Critics argue that the Olympic Games are not a waste of money because:

• Olympics can prove very benefitial to the society.


• It promotes sports and mainly it is a service provider - an entertainment.


• This service generates a lot of income from audience , sponsors and many more.

What are your ideas about this?

Do school authorities have the right to search students’ lockers?

With the esculating violence occuring in schools (particularly in America), many schools are conducting routine searches in students' lockers, in order to reduce weapons and drugs coming into the schools.

Some students may feel that a locker search is going too far. Perhaps some may say that they'd rather the teachers pat them down than search their locker. Some may say that they wouldn't like people going in their locker, as that's personal.

Many argue that school authorities should search backpacks for weapons and allow police to search lockers for drugs, but not on a daily basis. It would be awkward for the students to be searched daily just because there are a few oddballs at the school who bring weapons and drugs in. These particular issues should not be taken lightly because it brings harm to the student body and safety issues would arise from weapons and drugs brought onto the school premises.

Do you think it is ok for schools to search students' lockers?

Should skateboards be prohibited on sidewalks?

Some argue that having skateboards in the same area as walkers can be dangerous. What are your thoughts? Should it be an offense to skate on sidewalks or should everyone share the paths?

Stereotyping Islam should be made a criminal offence

Stereotyping Islam should be made a criminal offence, says a new report.

Research has been undertaken in the UK that states the British so hate Muslims and Islam as they perceive them, that both need special protection in law.

The report highlights how people are showing "dread or hatred of Islam and Muslims". This has become "particularly dangerous", and "must be tackled with great urgency", it says.

However, some say that the report fails to address the central issue: it does not recognise the real challenge which Islam is posing to our whole secular society and it simply keeps it on the level of "let's avoid a punch up". Which of course we would all agree with, but it does not really address the serious issues."

What are your thoughts on the stereotyping of Islam?